Engineering Intern

Build your engineering experience while helping shape the future of Paso Robles. The City of Paso Robles is seeking an engineering intern to join the Community Development Department’s Engineering Division. This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting public infrastructure, development, and capital improvement projects while seeing how engineering work helps shape the community. Working alongside experienced City staff, you’ll build practical skills, apply what you’ve learned in the classroom, and contribute to projects that serve Paso Robles.

The ideal candidate is curious, detail-oriented, and eager to learn, with an interest in municipal engineering and a desire to put classroom knowledge into practice. This part-time internship is scheduled for up to 17 hours per week for a maximum of one year, with the potential for a one-year extension by mutual agreement.

About Paso Robles

Nestled in the heart of California’s scenic Central Coast, Paso Robles—short for El Paso de Robles, or “The Pass of the Oaks”—offers a unique blend of small-town charm, natural beauty, and modern opportunity. Originally founded around its famous mineral hot springs and rich agricultural heritage, Paso Robles has grown into a dynamic and thriving community. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, sunny days and cool evenings, ideal for both outdoor living and agricultural innovation. With its rolling hills, majestic oak trees, and panoramic vineyard views, Paso Robles provides a truly inspiring setting for work and life.

Paso Robles’ central location within San Luis Obispo County offers residents easy access to a wide array of cultural, educational, and recreational attractions. Just a short 30-minute drive south lies California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), a nationally ranked institution known for its hands-on learning and innovation. This proximity fosters strong connections to cutting-edge research, continuing education, and a highly educated talent pool. To the west, scenic Highway 1 leads to the iconic Hearst Castle in San Simeon, a historic landmark that draws visitors from around the world with its stunning architecture and sweeping coastal views. Within the county, residents can also enjoy the vibrant coastal towns of Morro Bay, Cambria, and Pismo Beach, as well as the eclectic energy of downtown San Luis Obispo. From wine tasting and hiking to art galleries, surf spots, and farmers’ markets, San Luis Obispo County offers an exceptional quality of life. 

Today, Paso Robles is best known as a premier wine region, home to over 200 wineries producing world-class Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, and Rhône varietals. But wine is just the beginning. The city boasts a vibrant downtown filled with boutique shopping, award-winning restaurants, and a bourgeoning local arts scene. Cultural highlights include the Paso Robles Wine Festival, California Mid-State Fair, and a variety of community events that bring residents together year-round. A wide array of housing options, good schools, a welcoming business environment, and proximity to outdoor destinations make it an ideal place to live and work. Whether you’re a young professional, a growing family, or someone looking to make a lifestyle change, the City of Paso Robles offers the perfect balance of opportunity, community, and California charm. 

The Organization

The City of Paso Robles was incorporated in 1889 as a general law city and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. As of January 1, 2025, the City's population has grown to approximately 31,061, reflecting consistent growth over recent years as more residents are drawn to the City's high quality of life, strong community identity, and comprehensive municipal services.

The City is a full-service municipality, meaning it provides a wide range of essential public services directly to its residents. These include police and fire protection, emergency medical response, water and wastewater utilities, parks and recreation, planning and development services, public works, and community enrichment programs. The City is committed to delivering responsive, effective, and efficient services that enhance the well-being of its residents and support a safe, sustainable, and vibrant community.

The governing body consists of a five-member City Council: the Mayor, elected at large by the voters of the City; and four Councilmembers elected by district. Voters also elect one City Treasurer at-large. All six elected positions are non-partisan. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is authorized to appoint all non-elected employees, with the exception of the City Attorney.

The City operates with a total annual budget of $148.5 million for fiscal year 2026-27 and employs 311.97 full-time equivalent positions across the departments of Administrative Services, City Manager’s Office, Community Development, Community Services, Fire and Emergency Services, Police, Public Works, and Utilities.

The Department

Community Development helps shape what Paso Robles looks like today and where it is headed tomorrow. From new neighborhoods and businesses to improvements that connect people and places, the department works with the community, property owners, developers, and City partners to turn plans into projects that become part of the community.

At the heart of that process is the Engineering Division, where plans become real infrastructure. The division reviews and inspects private development projects and improvements that connect to the City's infrastructure, ensuring they are built to City standards and meet applicable codes and regulations. From streets, sidewalks, and drainage to water and sewer improvements, the Engineering Division helps make sure development is safe, functional, and built to last.

The following duties are typical of this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the duties set forth below and/or may be required to perform additional related duties to address City needs and evolving business practices.

• Assists engineering staff in reviewing construction plans, improvement plans, and engineering drawings for compliance with applicable City standards, specifications, and engineering principles. 
• Supports engineering staff with development review, capital improvement projects, permitting activities, construction observation, and infrastructure-related programs. 
• Conducts research, compiles, analyzes, and summarizes technical and operational data related to traffic, utilities, public infrastructure, development projects, and community-wide studies. 
• Assists in preparing technical reports, staff reports, memoranda, presentations, maps, graphs, and other supporting documentation. 
• Performs field visits and site inspections to collect data, verifies field conditions, documents progress, and supports construction observation activities. 
• Assists engineering staff in monitoring active construction projects to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, and project requirements. 
• Assists with data collection, quantity takeoffs, traffic counts, field measurements, and other engineering-related analyses used to support project review, planning, and construction activities. 
• Assists with permit tracking, development review activities, project documentation, and other administrative and technical support functions for municipal engineering operations. 
• Creates, updates, and maintains project files, databases, and digital records, ensuring accuracy, organization, and accessibility of information. 
• Provides professional customer service to the public, contractors, consultants, and City staff by responding to inquiries and explaining basic engineering processes and procedures. 
• Assists in the preparation of public meeting materials, agendas, presentations, exhibits, and informational brochures. • Attends and supports public meetings, community outreach events, and project presentations as needed. 
• Collaborates and communicates effectively with City staff, engineers, contractors, developers, residents, and external agencies to support project coordination. 
• Assists with accurate documentation and tracking of project correspondence, submittals, and plan revisions. 

Knowledge of:

• Fundamental principles and practices of civil engineering support work in a municipal setting.
• Methods and techniques used to review applications, construction plans, and site plans for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with standards.
• City engineering standards, specifications, and basic permitting and development review processes.
• Basic concepts of civil engineering, land development, public infrastructure, and construction practices as they relate to municipal engineering projects.
• Recordkeeping principles, practices, and document control procedures.
• Principles of customer service and effective communication with the public, contractors, consultants, and City staff.
• Standard computer applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and presentation tools (e.g., PowerPoint or Publisher), with basic familiarity with AutoCAD for viewing and reference purposes.
• Basic understanding of municipal engineering processes and the ability to learn applicable City standards, policies, and procedures. 
• Proper English grammar, spelling, and professional written communication standards.
• Basic research and analytical methods used to support engineering, planning, and infrastructure-related work.
• Techniques for preparing clear, accurate, and professional technical reports, summaries, and presentations.

Ability to:

• Accurately interpret and explain basic engineering processes, plans, and procedures to staff, stakeholders, and the public.
• Conduct routine research, compile data, and summarize findings related to engineering and infrastructure topics.
• Read and understand engineering drawings, construction plans, and technical specifications.
• Recognize discrepancies or inconsistencies in plans, field observations, or project information and bring them to the attention of supervisory staff. 
• Compile, organize, and analyze technical information to support engineering review, planning, and project administration activities.
• Prepare clear, concise, and well-organized reports, summaries, and supporting documentation.
• Work independently with appropriate supervision, exercising sound judgment and initiative within assigned tasks.
• Perform detailed support tasks accurately, organize assigned work, manage multiple tasks, and meet established deadlines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, external agencies, contractors, developers, and the public.
• Communicate clearly and professionally, demonstrating tact, courtesy, and sound judgment in responding to inquiries and providing information.
• Take a proactive, service-oriented approach when addressing customer service needs and project support tasks.

Human Relations and Communications Skills
Regular contact within the department and periodic contact with other departments, outside agencies, or the general public to exchange routine, non-specialized information.

Analytical Skills and Complexity
Performs routine, repetitive tasks and processes that require selecting and executing actions based on clearly defined and well-established procedures.

Education and Experience
A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Possession of a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate; and
• Current enrollment in or recent completion of an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, construction management, engineering technology, surveying, or a closely related field.

Coursework or experience related to municipal engineering, public infrastructure, land development, transportation engineering, surveying, construction management, GIS, AutoCAD, or civil engineering principles is desirable. 

Licenses and Certifications

Requires possession of the following:

• A valid California Class C driver license and a satisfactory driving record

This is a confidential recruitment. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established. All information provided in application materials is subject to verification. False statements may result in disqualification or discharge.

Appointment is contingent upon successfully completing a background investigation and criminal history check. Before beginning employment, applicants must provide documentation of identity and authorization to work in the United States, as well as a current DMV driving record.

This is an at-will position and may be terminated with or without cause and with or without notice at any time by the incumbent or the City.

The email address provided on the City application will be the primary means of communication regarding this recruitment. The City of Paso Robles participates in E-Verify. More information is available at www.PRCity.com/HR. For questions regarding the application process, contact Human Resources at (805) 237-3962 or [email protected].

All persons employed by the City of Paso Robles are designated as "disaster service workers" as defined in the California Government Code section 3100 and 3101.